Flowering summer-fall. In alkaline or saline substrates, often along roadsides, in old fields and vacant lots; 400-1200 m; Ariz., N.Mex., Tex.; Mexico.

The name Obione elegans var. radiata was discussed by H. M. Hall and F. E. Clements (1923), who did not see the Thurber type material, but did see another cited specimen, Wright 571, from west Texas, which is referable to Atriplex elegans. The concept of A. radiata, according to Coulter, includes A. wrightii as a synonym; the description supplied by him is of that entity.